Conveyer.



G. D. SEEBERGER. GONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1902. RENEWED JUNE 10, 1905;

917,902. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

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U. D. SEEBERGER.

CONVEYER. APPLIOATION EILEE MAR. 31, 1902. RENEWED JUNE 10, 1905.

91 7,902. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

useful improvements in conveyers, and is OHARLESID.SEEBERGER,OFYYONKERS,NEWYORK.

CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed March 31-, 1902, Serial No. 100,860. Renewed June 10, 1905. Serial No. 264,733.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. SEEBER- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and designed to produce a device of that class in which each step may be supported upon a truck or bearing having only two wheels or shoes instead of the four which have hitherto been employed in ractice, thus reducing not only the number 0 wheels, but also the number of tracks employed, as the four wheel trucks require a double track instead of a single one.

In perfecting my invention, I have devised a novel system of parallel linkage by which the tread surfaces of the steps are kept horizontal, whether they are traveling on a horizontal track to form a landing or on an inclined track to form the ascending or descending steps, while at the same time permitting them to ass readily around the terminal curves or .oops, and that without the necessity of slotting the links as has been done hitherto. The linkage is for compact ness, preferably placed under the steps.

My invention is also concerned with a novel ropelling mechanism for the trucks.

To lustrate my invention 1 three sheets of drawings in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View in side elevation of the steps and links, with all the other mechanism omitted, and intended to show the relative positions assumed by the steps and links in all positions throughout the circuit; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and on an enlarged scale, showing the steps and links on a horizontal portion forming a landing; Fig. 3 is a similar view on an inclined portion; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation in section on the line AA of Fig. 3, and with the risers removed; Fig. 5 is a lan view of the same with a portion of one of the treads broken away; Fig. 6 is a section showing how the steps are driven; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the links immediately over the driving pinion with the steps to which they are connected removed.

In earryingout my invention, a single annex hereto track a is employed on the inner side of each track support I), the tracks and supports tak ing whatever design may be necessitated by the conditions under which the. apparatus is to be operated, one designbeing indicated by the dotted line a in Fig. 1.

' Each step 0 consists of a tread surface a, a riser e, and the end pieces f, and may be constructed in any desired manner, and is rovided with an axle bar or-shaft g, which lies the wheels h, or some equivalent support, such as sliding shoes, etc., mounted on the ends thereof in the plane of the tracks a, so that as the steps are advanced, the wheels roll on the tracks in the customary manner.

Mounted in the ends f of each step is the step bar or rod 7', which preferably extends entirely across the ste a short distance directly above and para lel tothe axle bar or rod 9'. Each step is connected with each of the adjacent steps by one or more axle links ls, which are pivoted on the axle bars 9, at suitable points intermediate their ends and are refer-ably held from movement longitudina ly of the axle bar or shaft by the collars l, or by any other suitable mechanism. In order to permit the steps to pass around the curves at the ends of the circuit, as shown in Fig. 1,these axle links are substantially U- shaped so as to permit the noses, or risers, as the case may be, of the steps to assume the necessary positions without interfering with the links. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the adjacent links are staggered or in difl'erent vertical planes to prevent interference with each other. Similarly mounted on the stepbars or rods at suitable points intermediate their ends are the step links 112, which will be seen to have the enlar ed, substantially semi-circular ends a, w ieh are necessary to provide for the semi-circular recesses or slots 0 formed therein concentric with the step bars 7' and through which the axle bars or shafts 9 pass so that the step links and axle links ma swing freely as is necessary in changing rom the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 to the inclined posltion shown in Fig. 3, and in passing around the curves or loops at the ends without interference. The recesses 0 are of the proper length to allow the necessary swinging movement of the steps relative to each other required to pass around the curves, but no more, as this limitation of the length assists in returning the steps to and retaining them in 1 tively driven downward.

horizontal.

which serves to hold the tread surfaces of the I steps firmly in a horizontal plane whether they are traveling on a horizontal or an inclined track, and at the same time permits them to ass around'the curved ends or loops without any interference or actual shortening of the links as has -been necessitated by the system of paralleli'linkage heretofore employed. To drive these steps, I have devised the novel mechanism best shown in.Figs. 6 and 7, wherelit will be seen that I providea driving shaft 1), which is connected with any convenient source of ower', andwhich has thereon one or more riving gears or pinions g, which mesh with the rack teeth 1" which are preferably formed on the straight edged bottoms of both the ste links m and axle links is. As indicated in ig. 1, thisdriving shaft and its pinion are preferably located in the inclined portion of the circuit "as near to the top thereof as may be, and the links are so designed that when the steps are in this position, the rack bars or teeth are overlapped, and form'a practically continuous rack bar on both sides of the pm' ion, so that as the driving shaft is rotated, the ascending steps are positively driven upward while the descending ste s are osihe riving o the steps by means of the inions'thus co6perating wit the rack bars ormed on thebottoms' of the links assists tohold the steps rigidly in position with their tread surfaces the desired While I have shown the various features of my invention as embodied in the ,form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I do not des re to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior-art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit,

of a series of steps each provided with a pair of supports cooperating with said tracks, and a system of parallel links having a constant len th connecting said steps so as to hold their tread surfaces in a horizontal position on the horizontal and inclined portions of the track.

2. In a;device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series of steps each provided with a pair of supports cooperating with said tracks, a system of parallel links having a constant length connecting said steps, so as to hold them tread surfaces in a horizontalposition on the horizontal and inclined portions of the track, and means for driving said steps.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series ofsteps each provided with a pair of supports cooperating with said tracks, a system of parallel links havinga constant le th connecting said steps so as to hold then tread surfaces in a horizontal position on the horizontal and inclined portions of the track, and means for driving said steps con-' sisting of a driving pinion meshing with rack bars formed on the bottom of said links.

4. In a devicegof the class described, the I combination With""a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of aseries of steps each provided with a pair of supports cooperatinfi with said tracks, and a system of silbstantia y U-shaped links .con-

necting the central portions of said ste s.

5. In a device-of the class describe the combination with a pair of tracksconsisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series of steps each provided with a pair of supports coo crating with the said tracks,

.and a system 0 links connecting the central ortions of said steps and located entirely heneath them. A I

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the tracks,hof ghe steps' having a s' 1e sup. ort at eac en cooper-' ating there v tah, linfis of constant le th connectm -said steps 'andprovided w1th rack teeth ormed thereon, and a driving pinion engaging the teeth of said links for the purpose described.

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the tracks, of the steps cooperating therewith, the axle links and the step links connecting said steps and provided with the rack bars thereon, and the dl'lVlIlg pinion meshing with said rack bars.

8. 'In a devlce of the class described, the combination with the tracks, of the steps cooperating therewith, the axle links and the step links connecting said steps, and drlvmg means for engagin both the-axle and the step links for prope ing the steps.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with apair oftracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series of steps each provided-with a pair of su ports cooperating with said tracks, an

said steps, a step link connecting each adj acent pair of said steps and pivoted to their respective steps between the axle link and the tread surface thereof.

10. In a device of the class described, the

combination of the tracks, with the wheeled steps cooperating therewith, the axle bar having the wheels on the ends thereof in the plane of said tracks, the axle links connecting said axle bars, and the step links pivotally connected to the steps above the axle bars.

11. In a'device of the class described, the combination of the tracks, with the wheeled steps cooperating therewith, the axle bar having the wheels on the ends thereof in the plane of the tracks, the step links connected to the steps above the axle bars and provided with the slots concentric with their pivotal point and through'which the axle bars'pass, and axle links pivotally connecting the bars. 12. In a device of the class described, the combination with'a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series of steps each provided with a pair of wheels cooperating with said tracks, the

. axle bars having the wheels on the ends thereof, the axle links connecting said bars, and the step links pivotally connected to the steps above the axle bars and provided with the slots concentric. with their pivotal point and through which the axle bars pass.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series of steps'each provided with a pair of wheels cooperating with saidtracks, the axle bars having said wheels on the ends thereof, the axle links connecting said axle bars, the step bars secured to said steps above the axle bars, and the step links pivot-ally connected to the step bars and provided with the slots therein concentriewith the step bars and through which the axle bars pass.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a series of steps each provided with a pair of wheels cooperating with said tracks, the axle bars having said wheels on the ends thereof, the substantially U-shaped axle links connecting said bars near the center thereof, the step bars located above the axle bars, and the substantially U-shaped step links pivotally connected to the axle bars near their center and provided with the slots concei'itric with said step bars and through which the axle bars pass.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a complete circuit, of a. series of steps each provided with a pair of wheels cooperating with said tracks, the

axle bars having said wheels on the ends thereof, the substantially U-shaped axle links connecting said bars near'the center thereof, the step bars located above the axle bars, the

substantially U-shaped step links pivotally connected to the axle bars near their center and provided with the slots concentric with said step bars and through which the axle necessary curves to make a complete circuit,

the ascending and descendinginclined portions being parallel to each other, of the steps cooperating with said tracks, links connecting said steps and provided with rack teeth formed thereon, and the driving pinion centrally located between the ascending and descending portions near the upper end of the inclined portion thereof in position to engage with the rack teeth of both the ascending and descending steps.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with the tracks, of a series of steps provided with supports cooperating with said tracks,'and a system of parallel links of constant length connecting said steps in different planes.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with the tracks, of a series of steps provided with supports cooperating with said tracks, and a system of arallel links of constant length connecting said steps and located beneath them, and a driving pinion engaging the links.

19. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the tracks, of a series of steps provided with supports cooperating with said tracks, and a system of substantially U-shaped parallel links of constant length connecting said steps.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination with tracks, of the steps moving thereon, parallel links connecting said steps, and driving mechanism engaging said links and tending to advance the steps and hold their tread surfaces horizontal.

21, In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel linkage connecting said steps to maintain them in predetermined relation to each other upon the landing as well as upon the incline.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and tracks therefor, of parallel linkage of constant length connecting said steps to maintain their treads horizontal.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps to maintain the steps in horizontal position on both the inclined and horizontal runs.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of tracks consisting of horizontal and inclined portions and the necessary curves to make a conqilete circuit, of a series of steps arran ed to travel on said tracks, two sets of links of constant length connecting the steps to hold their treads horizontal, and means engaging the links for driving the steps.

25. The combination in an inclined moving stairway, of a single track at each side of the stairway, step sections each having a single wheel at each end arranged to travel on the said tracks, two sets of links of con- .stant length connecting and retaining the -sections having a single Wheel at each end to travel over'both tracks and arranged in step form on the inclined ortion and fiat on the horizontal portion, inks of constant length connecting the sections together-,jsaid sections being free to pivot on the links.

28. The combination "in a movinglstain way, of inclined and horizontal tracks, step sections each having'a single wheel at each end arranged to travel "on the tracks, an

axle-bar and rod on each stepsection, and

links of constant lengthconnecting the bars and rods of the several steps.

29. The combination in a moving stairway, of tracks, step sections having a single wheel at each end to travel on said tracks, links of constant length connecting the step sections forming an endless chain, the links having teeth arranged to be engaged by the driving means.

30. The combination in a moving stairway, of tracks, step sections having a sin le wheel at each end to travel on'said trac s, links of constant length connecting the step sections and forming an endless chain, the links having gear teeth, and a gear-arranged to engage the toothed links and so-arrangedv that it will always be in mesh with the end-;

less chain.

31. The combination in a moving stairway, of tracks, step sections arranged to travel on said tracks, two sets of links connecting the steps, the links being curved to clear the riser of the step section.

32. The combination in a moving stairway, of a plurality of steps forming an endless system, two substantially parallel series of toothed links connected to the steps, with a driving gear mounted to simultaneously engage the toothed links of both series.

33.. The combination in a moving stairway, of a series of steps forming an endless system, two series of toothed linksgonnected to the steps and forming substant ally continuous racks, and a toothed gear constructed to simultaneously engage the toothedlinks of both series on the ascending and descending runs.

34. A moving stairway consisting of a series of step sections forming an endless system, two series of toothed links carried by the step sections so as to form a continuous rack and arranged with their toothed faces in the same planes, and two driving gears engaging said toothed links at the ascending and descending runs of the stairway.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER. Witnesses:

W. H.- BRADY, THos. M. LOGAN. 

